Alabama's T.J. Yeldon reaches the end zone with 51 seconds left for the touchdown that helped beat LSU and keep the Tide No. 1. / Crystal Logiudice, US PRESSWIRE

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

Many college football observers wondered what would happen if and when top-ranked Alabama needed to make a play with the game on the line. The Crimson Tide answered that question under the lights Saturday in Baton Rouge with a beautifully timed, blitz-busting screen pass.

So Alabama's 21-17 triumph at then-No. 5 LSU means its unanimous No. 1 position in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll is safe for another week, leaving the battle for the all-important No. 2 slot behind the Tide to rage on.

Oregon strengthened its hold on the second spot in the coaches poll following its 62-point outburst at Southern California. The Ducks received 43 of 59 No. 2 votes, up three from a week ago, and netted a total gain of eight poll points. Kansas State held steady in the No. 3 spot after taking care of business against then-No. 24 Oklahoma State. The Wildcats probably will retain the No. 2 ranking in the BCS standings due out later Sunday.

Notre Dame remained No. 4 in the poll after surviving in triple overtime against Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish are still second on one ballot, but they lost all but one of the 11 third-place nods they received a week ago and had a net loss of 18 poll points. That net shift of 26 points toward Oregon, combined with the Ducks' road victory vs. a team with a winning record that could improve their position in the computer ratings, might help Oregon overcome Notre Dame's 0.0011-point advantage in the BCS standings.

LSU slid only four places to No. 9 after nearly stemming the Tide. Another SEC team, East Division leader Georgia, replaced the Tigers at No. 5. Sunshine State rivals Florida State and Florida hold down the next two positions followed by Clemson at No. 8. Unbeaten Louisville remained 10th.

USC slid five places to No. 22 after losing the 62-51 shootout to Oregon. But the weekend wasn't all bad for the Pac-12 as UCLA stormed back into the rankings at No. 19 thanks to its 66-10 demolition of Arizona. Northwestern climbed back in at No.21, and Toledo debuted at No.25.

The Rockets, who host Ball State Tuesday in an Election Night special, will take the field as a ranked team for the first time since the 2001 season.

It was not such a good week in the poll for the Big 12, which saw three of its teams fall out. Along with Oklahoma State, West Virginia was knocked out after its double-OT loss to TCU and Texas Tech tumbled following a home loss to No. 17 Texas.